Concise Guide to Psychopharmacology

This clinical companion begins with an overview of the general principles relevant to the safe and effective use of psychotropic medications. Subsequent chapters present clinically relevant information (for example, mechanisms of action, clinical use, contraindication, risks and side effects, drug interactions, dosing strategies and monitoring guidelines) about the major classes of psychotropic medications (antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants and cholinesterase inhibitors) and the disorders for which they are prescribed - with the caveat that the nomenclature is somewhat artificial because, for example, many antidepressant medications are also used to treat anxiety disorders. The authors also highlight critical differences and similarities among medications. For example, although antidepressants appear to be equally effective in treating major depression, they differ significantly from each other in side effects, lethality in overdose, pharmacokinetics, efficacy in treating comorbid psychiatric disorders and individual patient response.